The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-08
HOW ANNIE KEPT HER TRUST.

HUW ANNIE kEPI HEN lhUOl,
"Now, Annie, be true to your trust, be
my own good little daughter, and mind
and keep out of mischief; and Bobbie
too must try and keep out of mischief"
Thus Mrs. Linton admonished her wee
son and sunny haired daughter OF ten
standing at the front door; then she en-
tered the carriage, and was bowled away
for three weeks visit, leaving her young
people to comport themselves as best
they could during her absence.
$50, old lady, there's to be no day
dreaming, and book worming, and didn't
knows but all practical thinking and do
ing expected OF you, as from any other
rational being. Though are you to be
accounted that?" So spoke Jack, Armies
elder brother, the tease of the family,
sauntering around the corner of the
house, where he had hidden himself from
that last "good-by" SO trying to tender
hearted boys
81 shall be what I like, and do what
like; I shall not ask you,' was the lofty
rejoinder.
"Why, there spoke the mistress at
once" laughed the other. "May your
humble servant be permitted to enter by
the front door?" and the wag dropped on
one knee before her.
"Pd rather you stayed out" returned
Annie, smiling against her will.
II know what I'm going to do; I'm
going to kill bees" quoth Bobbie, with
the air of champion.
'You'l do no such thing" protested
Annie.
81 shall kill them for mamma, you know,
for she does not like them; she's ever SO
afraid to go near the hives" avered
champion Bobble.
off you kill them they'll kill you" was
Jacks answer, pulling one Of the small
things ears.
"Onl they can't; bees don't kill, they
sting"
"Well, sting; then. Don't you hear
what they are singing now? Hark!-
If you kill us, Wen sting you,
So, young man, mind what you do.
Buzz, buzz, buzz a-bee,
We shall sting if you kill wei"
"Bees don't talk-I know they don't"
scoffed Bobbie at this.
"They can, only you don't understand
what they say; now, do, because l
studied their language in Beeland, long
before you walked the EARTH" said Jack,
and went into the house,
Annie turned to depart with this in
junction
"Now, mind, Bobbie, you're not to kill
bees; you're to obey me like mamma"
"But what can [ do? 1 want to do
something to sprise mamma when she
comes home" returned the active child.
Nothing; mamma wants you to do
nothing" said Annie, as she dived into
the house after Jack.
"Yours is very false theory, Miss An
nie," said Jack, who stood in the hall
hearkening; nothing means mischief.
Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do
"Jack, I wish you'd mind your bust
ness and I'll mind mine" returned Annie,
not over pleased.
ST will, o ruler of households" laugh
ed he, and went off the school-room to
coach up bit, as he put it, which
meant, being holiday time, that he could
study according to his own bent and
prompting.
By-and-by, Annie found her way there,
and seated herself at the same table
with book story book which was
the delight of the girls life. A know
ing wink was all the greeting Jack gave
her, then there was silence in the sunny
room, save for the song Of the birds out
side, the musical hum of the insects among
the flowers, and the buzz of an intruder
come in from without, mayhap at the open
window, to report what was going on
there
"Tm sure mamma don't want me to do
nothing; Annie is wrong there; she isn't
half SO wise as mamma. Mamma always
says, DO something, dear, and then you
won't be naughty Work is better than
mischief, and l mustn't do mischief,
cause mamma said SO; and killing bees
is hard, brave work tits like killing gil
ants, to kill great, big, savage sting bees =
SO soliloquized Bobbie, strolling and
straying among the flower beds. The
bees we're in full cry there, all the happy
little toilers, the sunshine about them
like heavens own smile. Cruel Bobbie
needless Bobbiel ey, disobedient Bobbie
Now he had provided himself with q
switch of a stick; now one little toileI
was struggling on the ground, struck
down by his ready stick; now his foot
crushed it. Poor little beel 1t would